The Trump team has always maintained the president's political enemies were behind the leaks.

According to the Times, former campaign advisor George Papadopoulos told Mr Downer during a booze-fuelled night out in London that Russia had a dirt file on Hillary Clinton, and was shopping it around.

George Papadopoulos reportedly told Alexander Downer that Russia had dirt on Hillary Clinton. (Getty)Australia's High Commissioner to the UK Alexander Downer. (AAP)Donald Trump's administration has long dismissed the Russia investigation as a political witchhunt. (AAP)

When WikiLeaks released some of the thousands of e-mails two months later, the Downer intelligence was sent on to US authorities.

It's unclear if it was Mr Downer himself, someone in his office, the Turnbull government, or our agencies who whispered in FBI ears.

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The investigation has plagued the Trump administration and this new information - originally from Mr Papadopoulos, who has admitted to lying to authorities and has "rolled over" - just adds more questions and intrigue to a very sordid scandal.

The Australian government says it doesn't comment on ongoing investigations, especially one being conducted in another country.

Nor will the White House comment.

But it does raise questions about what it might mean for our relationship with the Trump White House.

You can't imagine the president - and all his men and women - will be pleased this information has come from one of its closest allies.